1 Chronicles 29:6-19: a reflection

6Then the princes of the fathers’ households, and the princes of the tribes of Israel, and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers over the king’s work, offered willingly; 7and they gave for the service of God’s house of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, of silver ten thousand talents, of bronze eighteen thousand talents, and of iron one hundred thousand talents. 8People with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the LORD’s house, under the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9Then the people rejoiced, because they offered willingly, because with a perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD; and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. 10Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said, “You are blessed, LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11Yours, LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty! For all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. 12Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all! In your hand is power and might! It is in your hand to make great, and to give strength to all! 13Now therefore, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name. 14But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and we have given you of your own. 15For we are strangers before you and foreigners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is no remaining. 16LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build you a house for your holy name comes from your hand, and is all your own. 17I know also, my God, that you try the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things. Now I have seen with joy your people, who are present here, offer willingly to you. 18LORD, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the heart of your people, and prepare their heart for you; 19and give to Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.”

As preparations are made to build the temple, the leaders and people give freely and abundantly toward it, offering gold, silver, bronze, and precious stones with willing hearts. And David, overwhelmed, breaks into a great prayer of praise, in which he recognizes a profound truth about their giving: But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from you, and of your own we have given you. They had given generously; yet all they gave had come first from God's own hand.

Notice David's humility about their giving. The people had given lavishly, and David rejoiced in it; yet he did not let it become a source of pride. He recognized that everything they had given first came from God: of your own we have given you. They could take no credit for their generosity, for they were only giving back to God what he had first given them. All their abundance, and all they offered from it, was God's to begin with.

That is a humbling and freeing truth about all our giving to God. Whatever we offer him, our resources, our time, our abilities, comes first from his hand; we can only give God what he first gave us. This keeps us from pride in our giving, for we are only returning to God what is already his; and it frees us to give generously and joyfully, knowing that the source is his inexhaustible provision, not our own. When you give to God, remember David's prayer: of your own we have given you. Do not take pride in your generosity, as though you gave God something of your own; you are returning to him what he first gave you. Give joyfully and humbly, recognizing that all comes from God's hand, and that in giving to him, you give only of his own.

Lord, when the people gave freely and abundantly for the temple, David rejoiced, yet prayed in humility: who am I, and what is my people, that we should offer so willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own we have given you. Give me that humbling and freeing truth about all my giving to you. Whatever I offer you, my resources, my time, my abilities, comes first from your hand; I can only give you what you first gave me. This keeps me from pride in my giving, for I am only returning to you what is already yours; and it frees me to give generously and joyfully, knowing that the source is your inexhaustible provision, not my own. When I give to you, help me remember David's prayer: of your own we have given you. Keep me from taking pride in my generosity, as though I gave you something of my own; I am returning to you what you first gave me. Help me give joyfully and humbly, recognizing that all comes from your hand, and that in giving to you, I give only of your own.